Verbena plant named ‘Wesverlav’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘Wesverlav’, characterized by its cascading, roughly spherical plant habit; ovate-shaped leaves; freely flowering habit; inflorescences with large, densely clustered and light violet-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Verbena hybrida cultivar Wesverlav.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant, botanically known as Verbena hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Wesverlav’.

The new Verbena is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Südlohn, Germany. The objective of the program is to create new Verbena cultivars with cascading growth habit and attractive flower colors.

The new Verbena originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor of a proprietary selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 00VE0, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 00VE2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Verbena was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within the resultant progeny from the above-mentioned cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany in 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany, since 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Verbena are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Wesverlav’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Wesverlav’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Cascading, roughly spherical plant habit.     -   2. Ovate-shaped leaves.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Inflorescences with large, densely clustered flowers.     -   5. Light violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have white-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Verbena are more compact and have larger flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower size as plants of the male parent selection have smaller flowers. In addition, plants of the new Verbena have longer lateral branches and darker violet-colored flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the cultivar Wesverdark, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,847. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Verbena and the cultivar Wesverdark differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Petioles of plants of the new Verbena were longer than         petioles of plants of the cultivar Wesverdark.     -   2. Flowers and inflorescences of plants of the new Verbena were         larger than flowers and inflorescences of plants of the cultivar         Wesverdark.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Verbena and the cultivar         Wesverdark differed in coloration.

Plants of the new Verbena can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Obsession Blue with Eye, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Verbena and the cultivar Obsession Blue with Eye differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena had narrower leaves than plants of         the cultivar Obsession Blue with Eye.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Verbena were larger and         denser than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar Obsession         Blue with Eye.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Verbena and the cultivar         Obsession Blue with Eye differed in coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Verbena.

The photograph at the right of the sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Wesverlav’.

The photograph at the left of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Wesverlav’ grown in a hanging basket container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Wesverlav has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Südlohn, Germany, under commercial practice during the spring and summer in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 20 to 25° C. and night temperatures ranging from 16 to 18° C. Cuttings were planted in 12-cm containers, pinched one time about two weeks after planting, and had been growing for about 20 weeks when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrida cultivar Wesverlav. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Verbena             hybrida identified as code number 00VE0, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Verbena             hybrida identified as code number 00VE2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at 18° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 21 to 23 days at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine.         -   Rooting habit.—Vigorous, freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Compact, outwardly spreading and trailing plant habit.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous and             freely-branching with the potential for two lateral branches             to develop at every node after pinching.         -   Plant height.—About 15 to 25 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 30 to 40 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 36.7 cm. Diameter: About             2.1 mm. Internode length: About 6.3 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Dense pubescence, viscid. Color: 146A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length:             About 6 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Slightly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Irregular; crenate             to dentate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Leathery,             dull; pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color:             Developing foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing foliage,             lower surface: 147A to 147B. Fully expanded, upper surface:             147A. Fully expanded, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper             and lower surfaces: 147B to 147C. Petiole: Length: About             8.4 mm. Diameter: About 1.9 mm. Color: 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single upright salverform flowers             arranged on dense terminal racemes. Freely flowering with             about 28 flowers and flower buds per raceme; about two             racemes per lateral branch. Inflorescences are positioned             above and beyond the foliage. Individual flowers last about             two to four days under greenhouse conditions. Petals self             cleaning; calyx and flower stalks persistent. Flowers             sessile.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering season.—In the garden, flowering is continuous             from spring until fall.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.2 cm. Height: About             3.4 cm.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 2.1 cm. Height: About 2.5 cm.             Tube length: About 2.2 cm. Throat diameter: About 2.3 mm.             Tube diameter, at base: About 1.5 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 to 1.4 cm. Diameter: About             2.3 to 3 mm. Shape: Tubular. Color: 146A to 146B overlain             with 145C to 145D; towards the apex, 83A to 83B.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower fused at base.             Petal length from throat: About 1 cm. Petal width: About             9.7 mm. Shape: Roughly cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Velvety, smooth.             Color: When opening, upper surface: 78B. When opening, lower             surface: 78C. Fully opened, upper surface: 80B to 81C;             towards the base, close to 155D. Fully opened, lower             surface: 81C to 81D. Throat: 145B to 145D. Tube: 145C to             145D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five, fused into a tube.             Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.9 mm. Shape:             Ligulate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Velvety, viscid. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: 146B to 145C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 mm.             Strength: Wiry. Color: 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.             Anther shape: Two-parted, ovate. Anther length: About             1.2 mm. Anther color: 145D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: 1A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 2 cm. Stigma shape: Ovate. Stigma color: 146A. Style             length: About 1.6 cm. Style color: 145C. Ovary color: 144B.         -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Verbena. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from 2 to 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Wesverlav’, as illustrated and described. 